Great CHAN (Championship of African Nations) cup final yesterday in Kigali. In between the usual ACN they have the CHAN, which is similar, but only for players who play in their local leagues. DRC beat Mali 3-0, a bit one sided but me being in the DR Congo there was a great atmosphere in the bar and free beer to boot. A young 19 year old called Mechak Elia scored a couple of beauties, the first a 25 yarder from the left hand side nicely curled in and he rounded the keeper and then a cool finish for his second. I bet he won't be playing at that level for much longer.
'Game' is only a loose description of what goes on though. It's more of a pantomime of opera, circus stunts, ridiculous adverts and an insane amount of delays. 'Commercial Torture' is my preferred description.
I still remember finding the 1982 world cup on, and, to my utter amazement, I saw players...playing...the game. It went on and on, for minutes on end. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Could players really be allowed to play a game? Didn’t we have to stop them every few seconds to appease the War God? Would the sun still come up the next morning?
Friends of our have lived in New Hampshire for 5 years. We've been out a couple of times. American TV is unwatchable to English eyes such is the level of advertising. I can't watch advertising in this country and put the mute button on if I'm watching anything other than the Beeb. When in New York, I wore a spurs shirt and had a number of locals greet me and discuss Bale's proposed move to 'you know where'. Less so in Boston but the fact that we have the most fan groups in the US is great and I read a number of the fansites from the US and am increasingly impressed by the knowledge and love for our great club plus the humour that is inherent in our great game.
We have the most fan groups in the US? That’s a big surprise to me. I judge these things by the shirts I see people wearing. It’s something like 1. Man U 2. Arsenal 3. Chelsea 4. Liverpool 5. Spurs ? But I live in the sticks, the largest city in Appalachia, so I’m behind the times. If the end of the world is nigh, run to Pittsburgh, the saying goes. It will take ten years for it to get here. And never, ever underestimate my compatriots’ ability to find their way on to the side that’s winning. The PL is attracting lots of new viewers, thanks to its being covered by a major network. Lots of people are picking teams as we speak--and many others are perfectly happy to revisit their choice.
Have American soccer fans got their heads around the idea of relegation yet? The idea of someone picking a successful club, only for them to suffer that fate is quite amusing to me, I must admit.
According to NBC we had 22% of fans expressing a preference (Whiskas was not an option). That was on the back of Friedel, Dempsey and Bale but we've appointed Brad as our US figurehead and he is doing a fine job in keeping our profile high over there. It's easy to be dismissive of foreign supporters from here but I'mvery happy to welcome anybody who cheers for Spurs. A few years ago I was in a complimentary seat at Palace. Behind me were a group of Dutch guys speaking loudly in their native tongue.Mid-sentence oneguy says "Steve Perryman." When I recovered from the shock, I chatted with the guys. They were over for a weekend to see Spurs who they adored. Our game had been moved to the Sunday,so they went to Palace on the Saturday. Went for beers with them and they come over regularly. I care not where they come from. If they do that for our club then bloody well played. I see the same from people on US sites indicating that they are coming over to catcha few games. From N17 to the world!
I was watching three "experts" deciding who would win the PL this season.Two went for Leicester (remember Alf Ramsey's Ipswich of 1961/2?) and the other for Arsenal. Spurs? We are a distant 4th just in front of United......GOOD! Keep going lads......
I doubt many of us would commit beyond M. Pochettino's view that we'll take it one game at a time. We're a Harry Kane injury away from potentially struggling for goals and everything else he brings us. I guess the same for Aguero and Vardy at their clubs? God knows with Arsenal and Giroud? Their fans berate him but who else is there for them? Even if this year isn't our year, I think we're in a great place to go again next year. Leicester will have to deal with Europe and the fact that they aren't a surprise any more, plus ageing of Huth and Morgan,etc. Just about everyone else will be rebuilding. That takes time to bed in, whereas we'll be polishing the highly tuned and perfectly running Mauricio Pochettino machine.
I would take 3rd now if offered. My main fear is a bad run which brings Utd or, God forbid, West Ham on to our shoulders.
Don't live in fear SD live in hope. Let's go for it and enjoy the ride. West who? as for United, I think Newcastle will just be happy to avoid the drop.
I think April will sort out Man Utd before they play Norwich and Bournemouth in May: Everton, Leicester and Villa (H) Spurs and Spammers (A) West Ham's fixtures starting in March include 5 derbies and 3 other tough games: Spurs (H); Everton (A); Watford (H); Chelsea (A); Palace (H); Arsenal (H); Leicester (A); Man United (H) Cheer up.It's all good.
